LARGE-SCALE ATTACKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 January 1942, Page 3

LARGE-SCALE ATTACKS

ANTICIPATED IN PHILIPPINES AND DUTCH EAST INDIES HEAVY CASUALTIES ON BOTH SIDES IN MALAYA

MOMENTARY LULL ON THE LUZON BATTLEFRONT But Enemy Moving Up More Troops SIGNS OF IMPENDING OFFENSIVE AGAINST INDIES * MANY JAPANESE RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS LONDON, January 9. A renewal of the battle in the Philippines is anticipated in today’s Washington communique, which stated that operations on the Luzon front have dwindled to skirmishes. The Japanese continue to move troops to the forward area, however, apparently in preparation for a renewed attack on the American forces. It is stated that the opening of a major Japanese offensive against the Dutch East Indies is only a matter of days or even of hours. This is indicated by a great many enemy reconnaissance flights over the islands.

GRIM CONFLICT In Progress in Malaya JAPANESE MOWN DOWN UNDER CONCENTRATED FIRE BRITISH STILL DEFENDING KUALA LUMPUR LONDON, January 9. There have been heavy casualties on both sides in the battle in the Klim River area in Malaya. The Japanese are attacking with tanks and lorry-borne infantry. A correspondent states that the slaughter of the Japanese in some places is almost unbelievable. Under our concentrated fire they are mown down in waves. , , . . . , An earlier Axis statement that the Japanese had occupied Kuala Lumpur is modified today. It is now only claimed that heavy fighting is in progress north of the town. The British are still apparently trying to hold the town against Japanese forces attacking from the north. Tributes are paid to the splendid work of Punjabi and Gurkha battalions in Malaya. The Japanese have a complete knowledge of the roads through the rubber estates and this has enabled them to make surprise attacks in armoured vehicles. There was little enemy air activity over Malaya yesterday. Enemy planes raided a village in the Singapore area. Seven were killed and 11 wounded. No military objectives were hit. Japanese planes last night bombed Singapore Island, causing seven casualties and doing slight damage. British bombers scored a direct hit on a 4,000-ton merchant vessel and several near misses on a smaller vessel. Two hundred miles east of Malaya bombers scored a direct hit on another enemy ship. The Japanese admit that a 2,000-ton Japanese freighter was torpedoed and damaged by a submarine south of Tokio.